Red Sox Sign Michael Wacha

Jeff Passan (ESPN) reports:

Right-hander Michael Wacha and the Boston Red Sox are finalizing a one-year contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Wacha, 30, was solid in a starting role for Tampa Bay last season and is expected to bring depth to the Red Sox's rotation. Deal is pending a physical.

My reaction: "Okay." (wanders off)

Wach'a ERA "in a starting role for Tampa Bay last season" was 4.53 (and 5.05 overall). His ERA+s in 2019, 2020, and 2021 were 88, 65, 78. Describing Wacha as "solid" is debatable. There is this, however, from Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic, so who knows:

Tampa Bay didn't really fix Wacha, who has a 5.11 ERA since 2019 and a 4.62 ERA since 2016, but the Rays may have unlocked some upside late in the year when they convinced him to ditch a high-usage cutter that had been clobbered all season. Wacha shelved it in mid-August and then finished with a 3.20 ERA and 45-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his final 39 innings.

Wacha Wacha Wacha!